02-02-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
February 2, 2025
Albert Schweitzer - “Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness cause misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate.” 

As we have spoken a lot about hope as of late, I sort of want to believe in what Schweitzer wrote, and in fact, my faith confirms what Schweitzer wrote. Yet I will confess that I do not always see the results as I wish I did. There are times when any sort of negligible amount of melting occurs, it sure feels as if the winter blast returns and refreezes the misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility. In its most powerful and poignant expression, hope believes in the future reality with such passion that future is lived and manifest in the present. So constant kindness in our lives is making a difference, whether or not it feels as if there is much refreezing.

Continue to provide me with what is necessary, as I want to be a person of hope. Holy God, kindness without hope will eventually burn out when it sure appears as if it is not accomplishing what it should. Hope is your vision encapsulated in love that beckons me forward in faith, despite what I might feel. For that, I am thankful. Amen.